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This is during dessert when one of Cathy’s blindfolded guests ran to the bathroom to vomit.
All you have to do is enable my laziness. I already watch “Project Runway” whenever it’s on — that’s my appointment TV — but this is the first time I’ve looked forward to what Lifetime airs after it.
Last week there was an ad about regular people hosting dinner parties and rating each other. It looked good, but plenty of things look good to me and I usually 1) forget when they air, 2) start watching and then lose track of when they’re on, then it’s out of sight/out of mind.
But it turns out this “Come Dine With Me” show was going to air Thursday right after PR All Stars, so I figured I’d check it out. It was even better than I imagined. From the ad I thought maybe each episode would follow one chef preparing for the night, but the fast-paced episodes pack all five hosts one after the other.
Spoiler alert! The young hot guy won this round.
You see the (very) amateur chefs in their modest homes in a documentary-style package that includes guests saying what they really think to the cameras in cutaway scenes. After each meal, the guests flash voting paddles from 1-10 to rate each dinner party host’s food, ambience, hosting, etc. There’s also a hilarious voice-over narration adding commentary.
I don’t often literally LOL … but I literally LOL-ed watching this and repeatedly announced to myself that it might be my new favorite show.
The whole thing is cheeky and fun — especially when the guests pretend to like something but talk smack about the food later. But plenty of times the guests are positive and the overall effect is warm and inviting. I would go on this show in a heartbeat. Since I can’t cook, I’d never win, but I feel like I couldn’t be worse than some of these people.
The cast! The people are the real selling points. Some of the guests are such characters, others are just normal people, and then there’s the young hot guy who looked like a frat boy but ended up winning his episode with a high-class meal. I think my favorite host was Cathy, the lady in the first episode who was pretty much drunk at every meal and played the tuba and was so pissed when she had the lowest scores. She did make one of her guests throw up, so it’s not like the low scores came out of nowhere.
Apparently this “Come Dine With Me” show is based on a Channel 4 program in the U.K. and it’s been picked up by broadcasts around the world. I was thinking it would be fun to do a celebrity version like “Nashville Dinner Party” with Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, and Blake Shelton or something. No idea why that idea popped into my head, but I’ve given it way too much thought.
Anyway, another episode is airing tonight after “Project Runway All-Stars” and I can’t wait. I just checked the schedule and “The Road to Christmas” is airing after PR tonight. You bastards! It looks like the next dinner party episode will air on Thursday, Dec. 19. Grrrr….
Check out some videos to get a feel for what the show is like, for when it returns to Lifetime. Are you watching (and loving) this show too?
Gia with her boyfriend Ryan Anderson and dog Bentley.
I don’t know what to say.
I didn’t know Gia Allemand personally, but I talked to her for interviews and she seemed like someone I’d like in real life. She and I are both Ginas (although she went by Gia) and big advocates for helping homeless animals. She was the compassionate heart of “Bachelor Pad.” She even made Wes’s country song seem tolerable (although I disagree that he’s like Shakespeare but “better and cuter.”) She just seemed cool and sweet, although a bit sensitive and insecure. I never imagined she’d ever be in a place where she’d take her own life at age 29, as reports have suggested.
Whenever I think of Gia, I think of that conference call she was on during BP2, when we were trying to figure out what happened between Ames and Jackie. They were both on the call and it was kind of awkward, since Ames had apparently dumped Jackie and no one really understood what happened. Gia jumped in to ask her own questions, since she was a fan of Team Jackie Brown too.
Here’s that interview, if you want to read it. And here’s a lot more on Gia, including an archive of old Wetpaint stories about her from The Bachelor 14 (with Jake) and BP1 and BP2.
Gia, you are already missed — and you’ll never be forgotten.
Wah!
He’s a diva. He needs anger management. I don’t exactly love his designs. But I agree with Sandro on one point: All of the “Project Runway” designers deserve feedback. That’s why they’re there.
This is something I’ve always complained about – the PR “safe” zone leaves designers confused about what the judges are looking for. It doesn’t mean, as Tim Gunn noted, that the designers should cater their garments to what they think the judges want. But I didn’t find it out of line for Sandro to want constructive criticism. It’s not like they should’ve stopped just to give only him feedback, but why wouldn’t the designers want to know where they stand? I actually had this exact thought last week when there were only two teams in the top. I felt like Jeremy and Ken should’ve been the third team in the top (I thought they should’ve been contenders to win) and wondered why all the teams couldn’t get feedback.
Tonight on “Project Runway” Season 12, Episode 4, “Tie the Knot,” the designers could do whatever they wanted, as inspired by Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s bow ties from his Tie the Knot Organization.
Sandro was safe. So was Helen, but only because she had immunity from her Kate team last week. Sandro may not have said anything at all if Heidi Klum hadn’t piped in that Helen was lucky to have immunity because her garment was so bad. The judges wondered if maybe she only won last week because she was paired with Kate. Ouch. Nina Garcia said she wants to see something better from Helen next week.
The top and bottom. Sandro saved one of them (probably Miranda) by storming out.
Backstage, Helen got very upset about basically being told she didn’t deserve to win last week and credit should’ve gone to Kate. Sandro said it shows how bitchy the judges can be. (He seems especially upset with Zac Posen, who called Sandro’s Week 1 design a “slutty cat toy” and compared this week’s look to a walk of shame.)
The other designers, especially Ken, told Sandro there’s a time and place for speaking out to the judges and Sandro went too far. He was safe. He should’ve been quiet. I don’t know if the judges should be bowed to like that, since the designers do need feedback. They may not be students but they are “amateurs” of a sort, looking for a big showcase on this show. How can they really get that showcase without discussion on the runway?
That said, Sandro did go too far – behind-the-scenes. He didn’t make Helen cry – Helen seems like she’s just a little emotional – but he did flip Ken the bird, ripped off his mic, threatened to smash a camera (he seemed to push it), and stormed off. He went missing. Tim had to tell Heidi and the judges that they went out looking for him. Don’t bother. He’s too sensitive for this. I think the designers should get feedback, but if he can’t even take criticism from his own peers without getting THAT angry, he doesn’t belong there. And that’s not even addressing his treatment of poor Sue last week. She was a saint to lower herself to be his “assistant” because that’s the only way she could get through that intact.
Anyway, my Jeremy was robbed again. I’m sorry that his (or his husband’s?) gran died. I thought he might win with that garment, but instead he found himself in the BOTTOM three. That’s his first time in front of the judges and it’s in the bottom? Talk about ridiculous. If anyone has a right to ask the judges WTF do you want?! it’s Jeremy.
Bradon won again. And he proposed to his partner Josh right there on the runway. And then Josh proposed right back via Skype/video thing. Congrats to him. I liked his design, but the designers need to pick new models. Bradon has a HUGE advantage with his model. Tyra Banks only wishes she had her on ANTM. Models can make or break your design and that needs to be shown. If Bradon wins without her, good for him. But I feel like she could give another designer a boost.
I’m all about the underdog, So as much as I like and respect Bradon, I can’t root for him to keep winning. He’s already adored enough. This is starting to feel like Bradon’s show. The judges love him. If they ever stop, Tim will probably save him. What are they not seeing in Jeremy? It’s irritating.
My favorites so far: Jeremy, Dom, Alexandria, Bradon (he is good), Kate.
Sandro didn’t return after his walk-off. (Reminds me of Daniel Vosovic on PR Season 2: “It’s a motherf*ckin’ walk-off!”) He wasn’t allowed to, even if he wanted to. That probably saved Miranda, who only survived last week because Timothy was already around for too long.
***THE DESIGNERS***
• Alexander Pope, 38 – Hometown: Los Angeles, CA; Resides in New York, NY
• Alexandria von Bromssen, 38 – Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden; Resides in San Mateo, CA
• Angela Bacskocky, 33 – Hometown: Richmond, VA; Resides in Richmond, VA (Eliminated Week 1)
• Bradon McDonald, 38 – Hometown: Lowville, NY; Resides in Los Angeles, CA
• Dom Streater, 24 – Hometown: Philadelphia, PA; Resides in Philadelphia, PA
• Helen Castillo, 25 – Hometown: Weehawken, NJ; Resides in Union City, NJ
• Jeremy Brandrick, 41 – Hometown: Birmingham, England; Resides in New York, NY
• Justin LeBlanc, 27 – Hometown: Tampa, FL; Resides in Raleigh, NC
• Kahindo Mateene, 34 – Hometown: Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Resides in Chicago, IL (Eliminated Week 2)
• Karen Batts, 29 – Hometown: Boca Raton, FL; Resides in Queens, NY
• Ken Laurence, 24 – Hometown: Birmingham, AL; Resides in Birmingham, AL
• Miranda Kay Levy, 29 – Hometown: Wilton, WI; Resides in Milwaukee, WI
• Sandro Masmanidi, 28 – Hometown: Krasnodar, Russia; Resides in New York, NY
• Sue Waller, 45 – Hometown: Boston, MA; Resides in Brooklyn, NY
• Timothy Westbrook, 24 – Hometown: Wanakena, NY; Resides in Milwaukee, WI
• Kate Pankoke, the Runway Redemption winner from Season 11
***
Catch up on my old (vintage) “Project Runway” stories in this archive.
The top and bottom on Week 2. Did you agree with the winner and loser? We all kind of lose to have to deal with Timothy for another week.
When all else fails, sob. Or make a speech. Or be a random cartoon character who babbles about eco-nonsense. On reality TV, drama is like sex — it sells.
Poor Kahindo may not have made a standout dress on “Project Runway” Season 12, Episode 2, “Million Dollar Runway,” but it wasn’t that bad or that boring. But she didn’t get to show much personality, so like Angela last week, she had to go home over more TV-friendly characters.
Yes, I mean Timothy, but also Helen. Did you see what she made? I know her intention. Everyone has the same intention every week: to make a standout design that represents them as a designer. It’s harder than I can even imagine, having seen every season. But some people manage to work miracles. The people cast for each season, out of the thousands of hopefuls, are put in the position to be daily miracle workers. When your miracle falls flat, you should go home. Helen’s design was the farthest thing from a miracle. And she knew it. In fact, Helen was so upset with her faulty construction that she literally started shaking in her runway seat. Father Tim Gunn had to come out and help her. She cried, she made a speech to the judges to illustrate her passion, and she was saved. They all have passion or they shouldn’t be there. Should Kahindo have made a speech? Would that have saved her? It probably wouldn’t save you in the real workplace.
The second Helen started shaking I knew she would be safe.
Anyway, this week the designers were loaned more than $30 million worth of jewels and told to create a look glamorous enough to walk the runway with the jewels.
Of course Timothy was not inspired by the jewelry. He doesn’t care about money (or so he says). They had to pick the “prettiest” one, which he found superficial. (I need him to go home before my eyes get stuck in the up position.) He compromised enough to put makeup on his model and even though he had one of the “lower” scores, he was still safe. He is the judges’s pet.
This week, Sandro — who had a mini tantrum in the workroom and even grabbed a staffer by the arm to try and get him to fix equipment — had one of the higher scores, despite riding that line between “stripper and chic.” For me, he’s still on the stripper side. But good for him for supporting Helen. I don’t agree with any of it, but we all need someone in our corner. Just keep me away from that particular corner.
This week, Kate the Redeemed won the challenge. She won a corset-based challenge on her last season too. Heidi likes that stuff. I liked her (intentionally) disheveled Marie Antoinette-inspired design but I didn’t love it, and I’m not that invested in Kate’s redemption story. Sorry.
I liked Dom’s green and white design and, once again, I really liked British Jeremy’s design, which wasn’t even put in the top. Again. Still love his pants from last week too. I have a feeling he’s going to be my “cause” for the season.
Jeremy, I like your stuff. I can’t wait until you’re in the top instead of just “safe.” I still love last week’s pants best, despite the extra hardware.
***DESIGNS***
With my stream-of-consciousness thoughts as they walk the runway.
Dom – Like the design but is the green and white too matchy-matchy with the jewels? I need to see it up close.
Justin – Love her hair, and black dress is beautiful in a simple way.
Ken – Nice green classic simple, OK.
Kahindo – Interesting print, almost camouflage.
Alexandria – Very simple navy blue, beautiful, elegant (I love how opinionated she is behind-the-scenes. She’s going to piss someone off soon.)
Miranda – pretty much the same as last week just in blue.
Alexander – Black and flowy with some yellow. Not for me.
Kate – Victorian-like silver dress, lot going on but works.
Timothy – Um, not sure.
Karen – Blah, blue, doesn’t seem to fit right, doesn’t accentuate jewelry.
Jeremy – LOVE – My man of the season. It’s official. All on board. Love the bottom. It’s not the most original design I’ve ever seen, but it perfectly showcases the jewelry instead of overpowering it. I thought that was the challenge.
Sandro – Tight, shows a lot. This is what he likes apparently, so be it.
Helen – She’s shaking and in a panic on the runway because she couldn’t finish her look well enough. “My construction is so awful.” They stop so Tim can go talk to her. Sandro tries to support her as she shakes. This crying will probably help her. They love drama. So much for Helen being the tough girl. It’s not weak to cry but it is a sign of deep insecurity to play up your toughness and then fall apart when you can’t deliver. Sorry to be harsh, but this is happening to all of them at the same time, not just her.
Sue – Black and sexy but not a standout. Not my style. The judges love her, though. There’s always at least one I don’t “get.”
Bradon – Silver dress with a light wrap. Hmm.
This isn’t the best photo, but the more I look at Dom’s design, the more I like it. But does it show off the jewels enough?
***JUDGES***
Dom – HIGH SCORES – Nina loved that she made it very young. She found the print interesting. She loved the back too, however, whatever she used to hem is overpowering it. Heidi said if she had to pick a dress it would be Dom’s. But she wouldn’t put the ribbon around her hair. Zac agreed.
Timothy – LOW SCORES – Tim went for makeup this time but Heidi still didn’t like the model’s hair. She asked him about the fabric he used to see if it matched his “cause.” Stop making him a gimmick. Zac commended him for going for something as ambitious as velvet. But he thought the dress looked backward. It’s hard to find bras for razorfront dresses, Heidi noted. Nina called the razorback-in-the-front “bizarre.” Nina expected something like a tuxedo jacket. Timothy is such a brown-noser.
Kate – HIGH SCORES – She was inspired by Marie Antoinette fleeing in the night. Heidi knew immediately that this was Kate’s dress because she loves buiding corsets and won a corset-involved challenge on her last season. Nina thought she picked a fabulous cover. Zac thought the jewelry popped, which was the whole task so that’s a good sign. WINNER
Sandro – HIGH SCORES – He had vintage rubies and went for a more “feminine” style. Heidi noted that he likes to put a lot into his garments. He piled on last week and he did it again. But she thought it worked this week. (Really?) Eric Daman liked the color with the jewelry. Zac and Nina liked his unpredictable fabric choice, but he had wrinkles in the fabric. Zac felt the sides of the dress took away from it and it got a little trashy. He walks the line of “stripper and chic,” as Eric put it.
Kahindo – LOW SCORES – Heidi thought it was so simple that it was boring. How is this exact argument not being made for Karen’s blue dress? Eric is wearing camo too but he didn’t seem to appreciate. Zac thought the print was hard and the construction was not inspiring. “I think it looks like a dress on sale.” And he felt the designer popped more than the model and looked cooler. It’s not exciting enough for Nina, either. Are they talking more about her own personality, ’cause it feels like they make arguments to keep the “drama” crowd but if you’re “boring” to the judges they’ll push you out the door.
Helen – LOW SCORES – Helen had never done cups before; Heidi said she’s always shocked when the designers try to do something they’ve never done before. Why? Isn’t that something you’re supposed to do on PR?! Heidi said she’s obsessed with boobs and these look pretty bad. Evening wear is Helen’s forte but this didn’t work. The dress had a lot of problems in the back. The execution is very poor. Zac said a gown like this takes days. The hem is off. The fabric was the wrong choice. Eric said you have to time manage. Nina said there were so many imperfections that they distract from the jewels. But she found the design interesting, so that could save her, along with her tears and passion. She makes a speech. Should Kahindo have made a speech and cried? Sandro jumps in to defend Helen. “Don’t judge her too much, please.” That’s kind of him, but it applies to all of them and someone has to leave.
***WINNER***
Kate for her Marie Antoinette gown.
***LOSER***
Kahindo, basically for her fabric choice and for boring the judges/not being enough of a storyline character.
***THE DESIGNERS***
• Alexander Pope, 38 – Hometown: Los Angeles, CA; Resides in New York, NY
• Alexandria von Bromssen, 38 – Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden; Resides in San Mateo, CA
• Angela Bacskocky, 33 – Hometown: Richmond, VA; Resides in Richmond, VA (Eliminated Week 1)
• Bradon McDonald, 38 – Hometown: Lowville, NY; Resides in Los Angeles, CA
• Dom Streater, 24 – Hometown: Philadelphia, PA; Resides in Philadelphia, PA
• Helen Castillo, 25 – Hometown: Weehawken, NJ; Resides in Union City, NJ
• Jeremy Brandrick, 41 – Hometown: Birmingham, England; Resides in New York, NY
• Justin LeBlanc, 27 – Hometown: Tampa, FL; Resides in Raleigh, NC
• Kahindo Mateene, 34 – Hometown: Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Resides in Chicago, IL (Eliminated Week 2)
• Karen Batts, 29 – Hometown: Boca Raton, FL; Resides in Queens, NY
• Ken Laurence, 24 – Hometown: Birmingham, AL; Resides in Birmingham, AL
• Miranda Kay Levy, 29 – Hometown: Wilton, WI; Resides in Milwaukee, WI
• Sandro Masmanidi, 28 – Hometown: Krasnodar, Russia; Resides in New York, NY
• Sue Waller, 45 – Hometown: Boston, MA; Resides in Brooklyn, NY
• Timothy Westbrook, 24 – Hometown: Wanakena, NY; Resides in Milwaukee, WI
• Kate Pankoke, the Runway Redemption winner from Season 11
***
Catch up on my old (vintage) “Project Runway” stories in this archive.
Here’s the cast of “Project Runway” Season 12 … minus Kate, who is back for some reason. Did you vote for her?
Quote of the night: “What would the first challenge be without a little vagina?”
“Project Runway” is back, baby — not just on TV sets but back back.
Last season’s “Teams” challenge was a miss, and there’s just been a little something missing in general in the recent PR and PR All Stars seasons. But PR 12 started in an airfield and took off from there, premiering with the always intriguing unconventional materials challenge. Good call. It offered a nice preview of the designers’s points of view and creative potential. It also previewed their wacky personalities and bitchy comments about each other, behind each other’s backs.
This is shaping up to be an interesting group, overall. There’s some good talent and then just some crazy. There always is.
I did not agree with the winner or loser this week, in fact my favorite design (the pants and shirt by British dad Jeremy) was declared “safe” and the makers of the slutty cat toy and faux eco-dress are still around to torture.
I have no understanding of why Angela went home over Sandro or Timothy. Once again, the judges were wrong. But that’s always fun to complain about too.
They had to cover her box with a little black box and yet Sandro is still around? WTF?
***FIRST CHALLENGE***
The first task was for the designers to share their vision using a parachute as material. In one of this season’s many changes, there’s no longer a per-challenge budget. They have a Go Bank account putting them in charge of their own finances. That’s new. (What happens if someone goes hog wild and ends up broke by Week 5? Do they have to go home?)
Every season when the unconventional challenge emerges, someone inevitably sniffs that they could NEVER make anything good out of said material. On cue, Helen reveals herself to be that designer. She’s the dark tattooed girl whose aesthetic is a 180 from the way she looks. She predicts she’ll clash with people and it will be too bad for the bitches. There’s always at least one of them too.
But apparently there’s two of Kate Pankoke. The Season 11 designer was the one fans apparently chose for a chance at Runway Redemption. I’m surprised. I never considered her a bitch (didn’t we have bigger bitches to deal with last season?) but I never really considered her much at all. I’m confused and suspicious about why she’s back.
This season also features a Russian guy named Sandro with a big ego; a deaf designer – a first! – named Justin; and – also a first – a war between Wisconsin residents. Apparently Wisconsin isn’t big enough for both ebullient Timothy and military girl Miranda, who knows Timothy from home and thinks he has quite the ego. Timothy doesn’t like to use electricity, since he’s a “sustainable artist.” He wanted his model to put on an awkward armpit-sniffing performance instead of just a classic runway walk. No hair product. No makeup. As Helen put it, Timothy might be full of shit. But at least he likes unicorns.
There’s also a designer named Sue who looks kinda like the love child of Suzanne Somers and Betsey Johnson and doesn’t really know how to use a sewing machine. Why is there always someone who shows up and doesn’t know how to use the equipment? And why do the judges end up adoring that person?
***RUNWAY***
Father Tim Gunn is now part of the runway production, offering commentary to the judges as they review the designs up close. He won’t be judging since he’s also the designers’s mentor, but he does have the power of “rescue” to use one time. He’s like all three “American Idol” judges in one. Love Tim to death, but is that fair?
That’s the winning design, by Bradon, in the middle. Angela’s losing design is at left. If I were her, I’d be pissed as hell to lose over Sandro or Timothy.
***BEST***
I liked almost everything, but the designs started blurring together with so many. It’s always that way Week 1. These two popped out at me in a good way.
Jeremy – The British dad of two made a shirt and perfect pants, when just about everyone else did a dress. I’m so impressed with this.
Alexandria – Swedish former model did a cool, simple dress. I feel like I’m going to like her stuff.
***WORST***
Here are my least favorites:
Sandro – Even if his model’s VAGINA was not on display, it was a mess of an outfit. Her butt was hanging out. There was nothing to speak of in the design.
Sue — Bright pink and orange, too much fabric, too busy.
Ken – Bright orange dress just didn’t do it for me.
***JUDGES***
Timothy – LOW SCORE — Nina Garcia called it very muddled. Zac Posen thought she looked like he found her in the woods. Heidi Klum didn’t understand why the model wasn’t wearing makeup. Timothy’s also just muddled in his thinking about burning things.
Sue — HIGH SCORE — Of course. If I dislike something, the judges will eat it up. Heidi thought it was very runway.
Miranda — HIGH SCORE/LOW SCORE — She didn’t use much parachute material, but Nina loved the silhouette and the styling. Guest judge Kate Bosworth would “happily” wear this. Zac said it’s the most polished. Nina was upset that Miranda used so much inspirational material instead of the parachute. (Heidi even threatened to disqualify Miranda. Come on! People have done worse than this in the past, materials percentage-wise.)
Angela — LOW SCORE — Heidi was looking for pants, skirt or something. Nina said it has a very odd proportion. It’s like a disposable poncho.
Bradon — HIGH SCORE — I liked this dress but without the stuff in the back. Not into the parachute back with the movement. I’d leave it out. Kate loved the dress. She liked that it’s short underneath, it’s very thoughtful. Zac liked the walking and movement. Nina loved that he used this light fabric and made it dramatic and billowy.
Sandro — LOW SCORE — Zac put it best: “She looks like a slutty cat toy.” Heidi said: “It’s a disaster.” Nina said he put so much energy into accessorizing her look instead of into her piece. The taste level is a huge question mark, Heidi added.
***WINNER***
Dancer Bradon with his bow tie, Jesse Tyler Ferguson-ish look and airy parachute dress.
***ELIMINATED***
Angela? Really? Why not Sandro? I can see coming up with reasons to give Timothy another chance, but it came down to Angela or Timothy. Sandro wasn’t even in the bottom three. Why?
***THE DESIGNERS***
• Alexander Pope, 38 – Hometown: Los Angeles, CA; Resides in New York, NY
• Alexandria von Bromssen, 38 – Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden; Resides in San Mateo, CA
• Angela Bacskocky, 33 – Hometown: Richmond, VA; Resides in Richmond, VA
• Bradon McDonald, 38 – Hometown: Lowville, NY; Resides in Los Angeles, CA
• Dom Streater, 24 – Hometown: Philadelphia, PA; Resides in Philadelphia, PA
• Helen Castillo, 25 – Hometown: Weehawken, NJ; Resides in Union City, NJ
• Jeremy Brandrick, 41 – Hometown: Birmingham, England; Resides in New York, NY
• Justin LeBlanc, 27 – Hometown: Tampa, FL; Resides in Raleigh, NC
• Kahindo Mateene, 34 – Hometown: Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Resides in Chicago, IL
• Karen Batts, 29 – Hometown: Boca Raton, FL; Resides in Queens, NY
• Ken Laurence, 24 – Hometown: Birmingham, AL; Resides in Birmingham, AL
• Miranda Kay Levy, 29 – Hometown: Wilton, WI; Resides in Milwaukee, WI
• Sandro Masmanidi, 28 – Hometown: Krasnodar, Russia; Resides in New York, NY
• Sue Waller, 45 – Hometown: Boston, MA; Resides in Brooklyn, NY
• Timothy Westbrook, 24 – Hometown: Wanakena, NY; Resides in Milwaukee, WI
• Kate Pankoke, the Runway Redemption winner from Season 11
***
Catch up on my old (vintage) “Project Runway” stories in this archive.
Here’s the cast of “Project Runway” Season 12 … so far. At some point a human will take the place of that question mark.
I loved the winner of “Project Runway” Season 11. However, for me, the ends didn’t justify the means. May we never see that “Teams” twist again.
PR12 is starting up very soon with its own new twists — including Father Tim Gunn joining the judges and having some kind of “save” power, plus a returning designer getting a second chance in a Runway Redemption twist. Get to know the Season 12 cast (so far) here on Lifetime’s site. I’m cautiously optimistic about the Tim change (the more Tim the better!), but my voice joins the others wondering why these three designers were picked for another chance.
Anyway, the kind souls at AllYourScreens.com compiled a list of summer and fall 2013 premiere and finale dates. Here’s what’s left for July:
SUNDAY, JULY 7TH, 2013
Marvel Avengers Assemble Series Premiere (Disney XD)
Bikinis & Boardwalks Series Premiere (Travel Channel)
Bar Rescue Season Premiere (Spike)
Endeavour (PBS)
Family Tree Season Finale (HBO)
Sunday Best Season Premiere (BET)
MONDAY, JULY 8TH
Gasland Part II (HBO)
Get Out Alive With Bear Grylls Series Premiere (NBC)
Kentucky Bidders Series Premiere (TruTV)
Defiance Season Finale (Syfy)
Top Gear Season Premiere (BBC America)
Warehouse 13 Season Finale (Syfy)
Dangerman: The Incredible Mr. Goodwin (BBC America)
POV: Herman’s House (PBS)
Lizard Lick Towing Season Premiere (TruTV)
TUESDAY, JULY 9TH
Exit Season Premiere (Syfy)
Drunk History Series Premiere (Comedy Central)
The Jeselnick Offensive Season Premiere (Comedy Central)
Interior Therapy With Jeff Lewis Season Premiere (Bravo)
Storage Wars: New York Series Premiere (A&E)
Property Envy Series Premiere (Bravo)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10TH
Family Tools Series Finale (ABC)
The Great American Baking Competition Season Finale (CBS)
Inside: Secret America Series Premiere (NatGeo)
The Bridge Series Premiere (FX)
Camp Series Premiere (NBC)
Real World/Road Rules Challenge (MTV)
Wheelers Dealers: Trading Up Series Premiere (Velocity)
Crown Chasers Series Premiere (TLC)
THURSDAY, JULY 11TH
Hollywood Game Night Series Premiere (NBC)
Orange Is The New Black Series Premiere (Netflix)
Summer Camp Series Premiere (USA)
Sharknado (Syfy)
DeGrassi: The Next Generation Season Premiere (TeenNick)
Airplane Repo Series Premiere (Discovery)
FRIDAY, JULY 12TH
Cult Series Finale (The CW)
Comedy, Bang! Bang! Season Premiere (IFC)
SATURDAY, JULY 13TH
Being Human Season 5 Premiere (BBC America)
Beware The Batman Series Premiere (Cartoon Network)
666 Park Avenue Series Finale (ABC)
Bounty Hunters Series Premiere (CMT)
SUNDAY, JULY 14TH
The Newsroom Season Two Premiere (HBO)
Adam Richman’s Fandemonium Series Premiere (Travel)
Hillbillies For Hire Series Premiere (CMT)
Tia & Tamara Season Premiere (Style)
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But … but … but … I don’t *want* to like her stuff!
Now I’m confused. I checked out the New York Fashion Week finale collections from “Project Runway” Season 10 — including the decoys — and I’ve decided…
Love, love, love this look from Melissa. But it’s really the only look of hers that I loved.
1. Ven must be eliminated at some point before the final three. He did his rose thing again and copied himself in a way that says, to me, “F–k it, I’m doing what I want, knowing the judges won’t reward a whole collection of what I’ve done before. … Unless they decide it’s OK since they rewarded Anya for doing the same thing on Season 9.”
This dress by Christopher is beautiful, but I do feel like I’ve seen it before. Still…
2. Gunnar lost his mind. You know how sometimes the judges try to be diplomatic and sum up a critique as “He was just too ambitious”? Gunnar was just too ambitious. African tribal print? Maybe it could work, even from a guy who hasn’t hinted in this direction at all, but not like this. Way over the top.
3. Melissa and Christopher had some of my favorite individual pieces but they both also had some serious down notes. At first I thought “This is my final two,” but that was before I saw Elena’s collection.
4. Elena’s stuff is a lot better than I expected. Yeah, the lipstick is unnecessarily weird, but I would actually wear that sleeveless zip-up vest and the gray jacket. This may be the best collection of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean she made the finals. She could be a decoy.
Remember Laura last season? She made what even Tim Gunn and the other designers acknowledged to be the best collection but it was a decoy.
I would wear this! And the whole collection is cohesive and instantly recognizable as Elena’s. Dang it! If she had been this good for the whole season, I’d applaud her — attitude and all. But she just hasn’t been doing much other than talking smack. Now I don’t know how to feel.
I just don’t see Elena making the final three. And winning? Dmitry would stake her on the spot.
Check out photos from all the collections.
Dmitry’s definitely disappointed me. Too much Olivier, from last season.
Final three prediction: This is tough. No one knocked it out of the park. Elena was closest, but she’s Elena. She hasn’t done enough all season to earn an actual win. But I’m going to guess Christopher, Melissa and … ugh … maybe Sonjia make the final three? Sonjia’s collection has no cohesion so I can’t see her winning, but I could see her showing a few pieces alone and having the judges give her a spot in the final three.
Winner prediction: If Elena makes the final three, I can’t see them turning her down. But I’m guessing Christopher wins.
Also, check out my “Project Runway” Season 10 recaps in this nifty Wetpaint archive.
I really do want a Boris and Natasha spinoff now.
I could watch Dmitry Sholokhov make dresses all day. To me, it shows consistent talent. To the “Project Runway” Season 10 judges, it shows he has no range. It’s not like he’s made the same dress over and over. They have similarities, but he’s not making roses or fans all the time (Ven!) or doing the same big coat that makes the model look huge (Elena!) or doing … whatever it is that Fabio does.
I’m still Team Dmitry. And I’m very much not Team Elena. She’s a one-way monkey. And I don’t understand how she’s being allowed to be the fan favorite on Lifetime’s PR site. That’s some rigging right there.
I started this season not liking Gunnar Deatherage, but now I’m mad on his behalf. He was robbed tonight. Last week he was robbed by being in the bottom two and this week he was robbed of a win because the judges liked Sonjia Williams‘ coat. Props to Christopher Palu for giving Gunnar — whom he doesn’t even like — credit for all the work he did this week. Sonjia just promoted her own hunter green coat.
Anway, I’ve been posting recaps on Wetpaint’s site and you can check out my past three recaps here, including all the comments about Ven Budhu being rude to his “plus-size” client, Terri.
Be sure to scroll down to the end of my recap of tonight’s episode for details on the PR 10 Fashion Week collections. I hope Melissa Fleis, Dmitry and either Christopher or Gunnar make the final three. But I’m guessing it will be Melissa, Ven and Christopher. Or Sonjia? The judges love her stuff.
To what job would you wear this dress — besides maybe Marie Claire, if you’re Nina Garcia or Joanna Coles?
For the second week in a row, the winning design on “Project Runway” Season 10 was the dress the judges liked the most, despite it having no real connection to the challenge.
Last week, guest judge Hayden Panettiere said she wanted to wear Sonjia Williams’s winning look on the red carpet, even though it wasn’t a red carpet challenge. It was supposed to be a day-to-night look for a woman on the go.
I love Dmitry’s dress. I can’t believe the judges questioned whether the tiny back cutouts would be appropriate for work, but they didn’t have any concerns about the neck of Melissa’s dress.
This week, the judges — including that fabulous Marie Claire megabitch Joanna Coles — adored Melissa Fleis’ beautiful blue dress, despite the fact that no one in their right mind would wear it to work and it was supposed to be a challenge about creating a look for work.
They took issue with other looks they felt weren’t work-appropriate, including one where Heidi Klum said she wouldn’t want her lawyer to look like that. But if my lawyer came in looking like Melissa’s model, I’d assume I’d interrupted her cocktail party or trip to a film premiere.
I mean, imagine sitting at your desk with that collar. It does give you a natural bib, in case you have a messy lunch, but other than that it is totally impractical. I think the judges have no idea what it means to actually work somewhere, other than a fashion magazine in New York City.
But, anyway, I’m happy for Melissa. I suspected she’d be one of my favorites this season and she is. I still wish Dmitry Sholokhov would win — I LOVED his navy and black checkered dress, which was totally appropriate and practical for work — but mostly I just want to hear more phrases from him like “one-way monkey.” Elena Slivnyak is a one-way monkey, in my book.
Catch up on my “Project Runway” stories here.
I’m not saying Dmitry’s model looks better than Christopher’s — I looooove Christopher’s jacket — but Dmitry just isn’t getting the love he deserves. Both looks were better than Sonjia Williams’ dress. And why was Melissa just “safe” for all the separate pieces she made?
Where’s the love, crack-smoking judges?
I loved the movement of Dmitry Sholokhov’s candy dress from the unconventional challenge — and he and Melissa Fleis were a great team when turning purple-haired April Johnston into a silver Emmys goddess.
Love Dmitry’s candy look.
And this week, he created a simple but very chic and classic look for “Project Runway” Season 10, Episode 4’s Michael Kors day-to-night challenge. Michael called it the best-made dress on the runway, but he wanted it in a different color, maybe red instead of black. Which is weird, since Michael Kors NEVER wears any other color than black. The judges felt like Dmitry needed to turn the volume up creatively.
He didn’t win. He has yet to win anything. If he quit out of frustration I could almost understand. But nope. Andrea Katz and Kooan Kusuke quit. Buffi Jashanmal has talked about quitting (not that she needed to; she was eliminated this week) and Nathan Paul even cried when talking about how he wanted to quit too, but wouldn’t do it.
As much as he irritates me, I think Christopher Palu is a pretty good designer and he’ll go far. Just like Joshua McKinley. I loved Christopher’s leather jacket for his day-to-night look. If Dmitry didn’t win, I could understand Christopher winning. This time, anyway.
But no.
I like Sonjia Williams but I’m still not convinced I love her clothes. I feel like her woman-on-the-go look wouldn’t be flattering on too many non-model body types, but what does that matter to guest judge Hayden Panettiere? Sonjia won the challenge and Hayden is going to wear the look. I did love Sonjia’s candy dress, and I think she should stick around, but I’m not as in love as the judges.
Most of the judges worshiped Sonjia’s dress but I agree that it wasn’t a head-turner.
Ven Budhu has already won two challenges, but this week he was just safe. Still, he’ll probably go far. Unless he’s the one Heidi Klum was talking about in this quote to the Huffington Post: “We have someone right now, for example, but I can’t really say his name. But there’s one guy, great designer, but then he really couldn’t make it work that one challenge so he had to go. It was only fair.”
I just hope she wasn’t talking about Dmitry. Right now I’m still Team Melissa and/or Dmitry but the judges clearly aren’t on the same page.
Why am I never in agreement with these people!
Gina Carbone + stories 
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